A video claims the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine contains “cancer-causing SV40”.
This isn’t correct. The vaccine doesn’t contain the SV40 monkey virus, which can induce cancer in animals. It uses a fragment of SV40’s DNA sequence, which doesn’t cause cancer.
This isn’t correct. The vaccine doesn’t contain the SV40 monkey virus, which can induce cancer in animals. It uses a fragment of SV40’s DNA sequence, which doesn’t cause cancer.
Covid-19 vaccines do not contain ‘cancer-causing’ SV40 monkey virus – Full Fact
A video shared over 9,000 times on Facebook makes a misleading claim about the presence of SV40 in Pfizer vaccines.
fullfact.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A video claims the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine contains “cancer-causing SV40”.
This isn’t correct. The vaccine doesn’t contain the SV40 monkey virus, which can induce cancer in animals. It uses a fragment of SV40’s DNA sequence, which doesn’t cause cancer.
This isn’t correct. The vaccine doesn’t contain the SV40 monkey virus, which can induce cancer in animals. It uses a fragment of SV40’s DNA sequence, which doesn’t cause cancer.
SV40 Archives - FactCheck.org
www.factcheck.org
April 15, 2026 at 2:23 AM
<expert> The polio vaccine is safe and effective.
In the United States, the polio vaccine has not contained any SV40 since the 1970s.
RFK Jr is harmful to your health.
In the United States, the polio vaccine has not contained any SV40 since the 1970s.
RFK Jr is harmful to your health.
This is a very dangerous lunatic.
RFK Jr: “The polio vaccine "killed many, many more people" than polio ever did.”
RFK Jr: “The polio vaccine "killed many, many more people" than polio ever did.”
August 18, 2026 at 4:47 AM
<expert> The polio vaccine is safe and effective.
In the United States, the polio vaccine has not contained any SV40 since the 1970s.
RFK Jr is harmful to your health.
In the United States, the polio vaccine has not contained any SV40 since the 1970s.
RFK Jr is harmful to your health.
August 4, 2025 at 3:40 AM
SV40 has not been present in any vaccine since 1963. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that no current vaccines contain SV40.
QUACK
QUACK
May 24, 2025 at 10:50 PM
SV40 has not been present in any vaccine since 1963. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that no current vaccines contain SV40.
QUACK
QUACK
Kirk Milhoan just suggested that the FDA should remove mRNA COVID19 vaccines from the market because of “SV40 contamination”.
This is an egregious statement based on no credible evidence.
This is an egregious statement based on no credible evidence.
September 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Kirk Milhoan just suggested that the FDA should remove mRNA COVID19 vaccines from the market because of “SV40 contamination”.
This is an egregious statement based on no credible evidence.
This is an egregious statement based on no credible evidence.
Setting the stage for tragedy
Kennedy has falsely claimed that the polio vaccine causes cancer through the SV40 virus.
Modern polio vaccines do not contain SV40.
Some early polio vaccines that were contaminated with SV40 caused no increase in relevant tumors.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Kennedy has falsely claimed that the polio vaccine causes cancer through the SV40 virus.
Modern polio vaccines do not contain SV40.
Some early polio vaccines that were contaminated with SV40 caused no increase in relevant tumors.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Fears of polio resurgence as US vaccine adviser questions need for childhood shots
Survivors say US healthcare system not ready for new cases – ‘the only thing to fix polio is the polio vaccine’
www.theguardian.com
February 24, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Setting the stage for tragedy
Kennedy has falsely claimed that the polio vaccine causes cancer through the SV40 virus.
Modern polio vaccines do not contain SV40.
Some early polio vaccines that were contaminated with SV40 caused no increase in relevant tumors.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Kennedy has falsely claimed that the polio vaccine causes cancer through the SV40 virus.
Modern polio vaccines do not contain SV40.
Some early polio vaccines that were contaminated with SV40 caused no increase in relevant tumors.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
7/n meanwhile the specific statements about SV40 have been debunked by multiple investigations, I will provide some of them here, beginning with the CHOP vaccine education website www.chop.edu/vaccine-educ...
Vaccine Ingredients: SV40
Findings do not support the hypothesis that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines administered before 1963 caused cancers. Polio vaccines used in the late 1950s and early 1960s were contaminated with a virus called simian virus 40 (SV40) present in monkey kidney cells used to grow the vaccine. Subsequently, investigators found SV40 DNA in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with cancers, such as mesothelioma (lung), osteosarcoma (bone) and non-Hodgkins lymphoma (lymph nodes). However, several facts should be noted:SV40 was present in cancers of people who either had or had not received the polio vaccines that were contaminated with SV40.SV40 has not been present in any vaccine since 1963. People with cancers who were born after 1963, when SV40 was no longer a contaminant of the polio vaccine, were found to have evidence for SV40 in their cancerous cells. Epidemiologic studies do not show an increased risk of cancers in those who received polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963.Taken together, these findings do not support the hypothesis that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines administered before 1963 caused cancers. ReferencesCarroll-Pankhurst, C., E. A. Engels, H. D. Strickler, et al. “Thirty-five Year Mortality Following Receipt of SV40-Contaminated Polio Vaccine During the Neonatal Period.” British Journal of Cancer. 85 (2001): 1295–1297.Engels, E. A., J. Chen, R. P. Viscidi, et al. “Poliovirus Vaccination During Pregnancy, Maternal Seroconversion to Simian Virus 40, and Risk of Childhood Cancer.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 160 (2004): 306–316.Engels, E. A., H. A. Katki, N. M. Nielson, et al. “Cancer Incidence in Denmark Following Exposure to Poliovirus Vaccine Contaminated with Simian Virus 40.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 95 (2003): 532–539.Engels, E. A., L. H. Rodman, M. Frisch, et al. “Childhood Exposure to Simian Virus 40-Contaminated Poliovirus Vaccine and Risk of AIDS-Associated Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.” International Journal of Cancer. 106 (2003): 283–287.Ferber D. Monkey virus links to cancer grow stronger. Science. 2002;296:1012-1015.Ferber, D. “Creeping Consensus on SV40 and Polio Vaccine.” Science. 298 (2002): 725–727.Fraumeni Jr., J. F., C. R. Stark, E. Gold, and M. L. Lepow. “Simian Virus 40 in Polio Vaccine: Follow-Up of Newborn Recipients.” Science. 167 (1970): 59–60.Innis, M. D. “Oncogenesis and Poliomyelitis Vaccine.” Nature. 219 (1968): 972–973.Mortimer, E. A., M. L. Lepow, E. Gold, et al. “Long-Term Follow-Up of Persons Inadvertently Inoculated with SV40 as Neonates.” New England Journal of Medicine. 305 (1981): 1517–1518.Olin, P. and J. Giesecke. “Potential Exposure to SV40 in Polio Vaccines Used in Sweden during 1957: No Impact on Cancer Incidence Rates 1960 to 1993.” Development of Biological Standards. 94 (1998): 227–233.Rollison, D. E. M., W. F. Page, H. Crawford, et al. “Case-Control Study of Cancer Among U.S. Army Veterans Exposed to Simian Virus 40-Contaminated Adenovirus Vaccine.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 160 (2004): 317–324.Shah, K. and N. Nathanson. “Human Exposure to SV40: Review and Comment.” American Journal of Epidemiology 103 (1976): 1–12.Shah, K. V., H. L. Ozer, H. S. Pond, et al. “SV40 Neutralizing Antibodies in Sera of U.S. Residents without History of Polio Immunization.” Nature. 231 (1971): 448–449.Stenton, S. C. “Simian Virus 40 and Human Malignancy.” British Medical Journal 316 (1998): 877.Strickler, H. D. and J. J. Goedert. “Exposure to SV40-Contaminated Poliovirus Vaccine and the Risk of Cancer: A Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence.” Development of Biological Standards. 94 (1998): 235–244.Strickler, H. D., P. S. Rosenberg, S. S. Devesa, et al. “Contamination of Poliovirus Vaccines with Simian Virus 40 (1955–1963) and Subsequent Cancer Rates.” Journal of the American Medical Association. 279 (1998): 292–295.Strickler, H. D., P. S. Rosenberg, S. S. Devesa, et al. “Contamination of Poliovirus Vaccine with SV40 and the Incidence of Medulloblastoma.” Medical and Pediatric Oncology. 32 (1999): 77–78.Vilchez, R. A., A. S. Arrington, and J. S. Butel. “Cancer Incidence in Denmark Following Exposure to Poliovirus Vaccine Contaminated with Simian Virus 40.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 95 (2003): 1249.
www.chop.edu
April 15, 2026 at 2:23 AM
7/n meanwhile the specific statements about SV40 have been debunked by multiple investigations, I will provide some of them here, beginning with the CHOP vaccine education website www.chop.edu/vaccine-educ...
SV40 was removed from all vaccines in 1963, and has never shown any ability to form tumors in humans, and has no causal link or higher cancer rates in vaccinated people, in extensive studies and metadata analyses.
August 18, 2026 at 1:18 AM
SV40 was removed from all vaccines in 1963, and has never shown any ability to form tumors in humans, and has no causal link or higher cancer rates in vaccinated people, in extensive studies and metadata analyses.
Public health has taken the contamination of the polio vaccine with SV40 — contamination that stopped in the 1960s — seriously. The Institute of Medicine, in a 2002 report (Immunization Safety Review: SV40 Contamination of Polio Vaccine and Cancer) found there were open questions to be answered.
August 18, 2026 at 4:51 AM
Public health has taken the contamination of the polio vaccine with SV40 — contamination that stopped in the 1960s — seriously. The Institute of Medicine, in a 2002 report (Immunization Safety Review: SV40 Contamination of Polio Vaccine and Cancer) found there were open questions to be answered.
SV40 was a _contaminant_ in early polio vaccine, not the vaccine itself.
Research has found no evidence to support RFK Jr's claim: That is to say, there is no evidence of any increase in cancer from exposure to SV40, even though SV40 has been extensively studied.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine...
Research has found no evidence to support RFK Jr's claim: That is to say, there is no evidence of any increase in cancer from exposure to SV40, even though SV40 has been extensively studied.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine...
Vaccine contamination with SV40 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
August 18, 2026 at 3:18 AM
SV40 was a _contaminant_ in early polio vaccine, not the vaccine itself.
Research has found no evidence to support RFK Jr's claim: That is to say, there is no evidence of any increase in cancer from exposure to SV40, even though SV40 has been extensively studied.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine...
Research has found no evidence to support RFK Jr's claim: That is to say, there is no evidence of any increase in cancer from exposure to SV40, even though SV40 has been extensively studied.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine...
this is the bunk that he’s referring to; it’s been disproven.
“Epidemiologic studies do not show an increased risk of cancers in those who received polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963.”
“these findings do not support… that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines… before 1963 caused cancers. “
“Epidemiologic studies do not show an increased risk of cancers in those who received polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963.”
“these findings do not support… that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines… before 1963 caused cancers. “
Vaccine Ingredients: SV40
Findings do not support the hypothesis that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines administered before 1963 caused cancers. Polio vaccines used in the late 1950s and early 1960s were contaminated with a virus called simian virus 40 (SV40) present in monkey kidney cells used to grow the vaccine. Subsequently, investigators found SV40 DNA in biopsy specimens obtained from patients with cancers, such as mesothelioma (lung), osteosarcoma (bone) and non-Hodgkins lymphoma (lymph nodes). However, several facts should be noted:SV40 was present in cancers of people who either had or had not received the polio vaccines that were contaminated with SV40.SV40 has not been present in any vaccine since 1963. People with cancers who were born after 1963, when SV40 was no longer a contaminant of the polio vaccine, were found to have evidence for SV40 in their cancerous cells. Epidemiologic studies do not show an increased risk of cancers in those who received polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963.Taken together, these findings do not support the hypothesis that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines administered before 1963 caused cancers. ReferencesCarroll-Pankhurst, C., E. A. Engels, H. D. Strickler, et al. “Thirty-five Year Mortality Following Receipt of SV40-Contaminated Polio Vaccine During the Neonatal Period.” British Journal of Cancer. 85 (2001): 1295–1297.Engels, E. A., J. Chen, R. P. Viscidi, et al. “Poliovirus Vaccination During Pregnancy, Maternal Seroconversion to Simian Virus 40, and Risk of Childhood Cancer.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 160 (2004): 306–316.Engels, E. A., H. A. Katki, N. M. Nielson, et al. “Cancer Incidence in Denmark Following Exposure to Poliovirus Vaccine Contaminated with Simian Virus 40.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 95 (2003): 532–539.Engels, E. A., L. H. Rodman, M. Frisch, et al. “Childhood Exposure to Simian Virus 40-Contaminated Poliovirus Vaccine and Risk of AIDS-Associated Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.” International Journal of Cancer. 106 (2003): 283–287.Ferber D. Monkey virus links to cancer grow stronger. Science. 2002;296:1012-1015.Ferber, D. “Creeping Consensus on SV40 and Polio Vaccine.” Science. 298 (2002): 725–727.Fraumeni Jr., J. F., C. R. Stark, E. Gold, and M. L. Lepow. “Simian Virus 40 in Polio Vaccine: Follow-Up of Newborn Recipients.” Science. 167 (1970): 59–60.Innis, M. D. “Oncogenesis and Poliomyelitis Vaccine.” Nature. 219 (1968): 972–973.Mortimer, E. A., M. L. Lepow, E. Gold, et al. “Long-Term Follow-Up of Persons Inadvertently Inoculated with SV40 as Neonates.” New England Journal of Medicine. 305 (1981): 1517–1518.Olin, P. and J. Giesecke. “Potential Exposure to SV40 in Polio Vaccines Used in Sweden during 1957: No Impact on Cancer Incidence Rates 1960 to 1993.” Development of Biological Standards. 94 (1998): 227–233.Rollison, D. E. M., W. F. Page, H. Crawford, et al. “Case-Control Study of Cancer Among U.S. Army Veterans Exposed to Simian Virus 40-Contaminated Adenovirus Vaccine.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 160 (2004): 317–324.Shah, K. and N. Nathanson. “Human Exposure to SV40: Review and Comment.” American Journal of Epidemiology 103 (1976): 1–12.Shah, K. V., H. L. Ozer, H. S. Pond, et al. “SV40 Neutralizing Antibodies in Sera of U.S. Residents without History of Polio Immunization.” Nature. 231 (1971): 448–449.Stenton, S. C. “Simian Virus 40 and Human Malignancy.” British Medical Journal 316 (1998): 877.Strickler, H. D. and J. J. Goedert. “Exposure to SV40-Contaminated Poliovirus Vaccine and the Risk of Cancer: A Review of the Epidemiologic Evidence.” Development of Biological Standards. 94 (1998): 235–244.Strickler, H. D., P. S. Rosenberg, S. S. Devesa, et al. “Contamination of Poliovirus Vaccines with Simian Virus 40 (1955–1963) and Subsequent Cancer Rates.” Journal of the American Medical Association. 279 (1998): 292–295.Strickler, H. D., P. S. Rosenberg, S. S. Devesa, et al. “Contamination of Poliovirus Vaccine with SV40 and the Incidence of Medulloblastoma.” Medical and Pediatric Oncology. 32 (1999): 77–78.Vilchez, R. A., A. S. Arrington, and J. S. Butel. “Cancer Incidence in Denmark Following Exposure to Poliovirus Vaccine Contaminated with Simian Virus 40.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 95 (2003): 1249.
www.chop.edu
August 18, 2026 at 2:47 AM
this is the bunk that he’s referring to; it’s been disproven.
“Epidemiologic studies do not show an increased risk of cancers in those who received polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963.”
“these findings do not support… that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines… before 1963 caused cancers. “
“Epidemiologic studies do not show an increased risk of cancers in those who received polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963.”
“these findings do not support… that SV40 virus contained in polio vaccines… before 1963 caused cancers. “
December 17, 2024 at 4:13 PM
RFK Jr. claims the polio vaccine gave 98M Americans a cancer-causing virus (SV40).
Here’s why that’s false, with evidence. 🧵
Here’s why that’s false, with evidence. 🧵
August 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
RFK Jr. claims the polio vaccine gave 98M Americans a cancer-causing virus (SV40).
Here’s why that’s false, with evidence. 🧵
Here’s why that’s false, with evidence. 🧵
You‘re welcome.
Bobby doesn’t know how to read a study.
“the Inst of Medicine found that the epidemiological data for cancer rates in people potentially exposed to SV40-contaminated vaccines are inadequate to evaluate a causal relationship…”
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
under his auspices…
Bobby doesn’t know how to read a study.
“the Inst of Medicine found that the epidemiological data for cancer rates in people potentially exposed to SV40-contaminated vaccines are inadequate to evaluate a causal relationship…”
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
under his auspices…
Emergent Human Pathogen Simian Virus 40 and Its Role in Cancer
The polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40) is a known oncogenic DNA virus which induces primary brain and bone cancers, malignant mesothelioma, and lymphomas in laboratory animals. Persuasive evidence no...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
August 18, 2026 at 3:21 AM
You‘re welcome.
Bobby doesn’t know how to read a study.
“the Inst of Medicine found that the epidemiological data for cancer rates in people potentially exposed to SV40-contaminated vaccines are inadequate to evaluate a causal relationship…”
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
under his auspices…
Bobby doesn’t know how to read a study.
“the Inst of Medicine found that the epidemiological data for cancer rates in people potentially exposed to SV40-contaminated vaccines are inadequate to evaluate a causal relationship…”
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
under his auspices…
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SV40
He was lying both times.
He was lying both times.
December 17, 2024 at 3:37 PM
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SV40
He was lying both times.
He was lying both times.
Let’s talk about Simian Virus 40 or SV40, a DNA virus that asymptomatically exists in Rhesus monkey kidney cells (RMK cells). RMK cells were used to grow the polio viruses for the original polio vaccines in the late 1950’s, so these vaccines contained SV40. SV40 was discovered in 1960 and
May 3, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Let’s talk about Simian Virus 40 or SV40, a DNA virus that asymptomatically exists in Rhesus monkey kidney cells (RMK cells). RMK cells were used to grow the polio viruses for the original polio vaccines in the late 1950’s, so these vaccines contained SV40. SV40 was discovered in 1960 and
I think he's confusing sv40 with HPV (the cancer causing virus he wants to eliminate the vaccine for).
August 18, 2026 at 2:31 AM
I think he's confusing sv40 with HPV (the cancer causing virus he wants to eliminate the vaccine for).
SV40-containing vaccines (and SV40 was more resistant to inactivation than poliovirus, doubly worsening things). Large epidemiological investigations were done which showed no increased risk of cancer among recipients of the SV40-containing vaccine. Some laboratory investigations disagreed...
April 8, 2025 at 1:19 AM
SV40-containing vaccines (and SV40 was more resistant to inactivation than poliovirus, doubly worsening things). Large epidemiological investigations were done which showed no increased risk of cancer among recipients of the SV40-containing vaccine. Some laboratory investigations disagreed...
#idsky #episky #medsky #pedsky 🧪
I just want to take a second to highlight how unrepentantly dishonest the anti-vaccine lobby is: here is a recent post from Kevin McKernan, who has made evidently made his life's work the misrepresentation of the properties of SV40 on human biology.
🧵
I just want to take a second to highlight how unrepentantly dishonest the anti-vaccine lobby is: here is a recent post from Kevin McKernan, who has made evidently made his life's work the misrepresentation of the properties of SV40 on human biology.
🧵
April 8, 2025 at 1:19 AM
He appears to base it on the fact that some early polio vaccines administered between 1955 and 1963 were contaminated with SV40, a monkey virus that can cause tumours in laboratory animals.
August 17, 2026 at 8:30 PM
He appears to base it on the fact that some early polio vaccines administered between 1955 and 1963 were contaminated with SV40, a monkey virus that can cause tumours in laboratory animals.
Doodles of my VR friends!
@1012zach.bsky.social
@techfoxtaidum.bsky.social
Worpi
Azul
@alextaco.bsky.social
@sv40.bsky.social
@goosenoose.bsky.social
@karlamon.bsky.social
@echogen.bsky.social
and @tarincoyote.net
@1012zach.bsky.social
@techfoxtaidum.bsky.social
Worpi
Azul
@alextaco.bsky.social
@sv40.bsky.social
@goosenoose.bsky.social
@karlamon.bsky.social
@echogen.bsky.social
and @tarincoyote.net
August 23, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Doodles of my VR friends!
@1012zach.bsky.social
@techfoxtaidum.bsky.social
Worpi
Azul
@alextaco.bsky.social
@sv40.bsky.social
@goosenoose.bsky.social
@karlamon.bsky.social
@echogen.bsky.social
and @tarincoyote.net
@1012zach.bsky.social
@techfoxtaidum.bsky.social
Worpi
Azul
@alextaco.bsky.social
@sv40.bsky.social
@goosenoose.bsky.social
@karlamon.bsky.social
@echogen.bsky.social
and @tarincoyote.net
Also, to be clear…Kennedy’s SV40-polio vaccine tale is zombie antivax BS.
Yes: early on, polio shots included SV40. Repeated studies have shown no correlation with cancer rates.
And…what RFK Jr. leaves out: SV40 was gone from polio shots after ‘63.
Yes: early on, polio shots included SV40. Repeated studies have shown no correlation with cancer rates.
And…what RFK Jr. leaves out: SV40 was gone from polio shots after ‘63.
August 18, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Also, to be clear…Kennedy’s SV40-polio vaccine tale is zombie antivax BS.
Yes: early on, polio shots included SV40. Repeated studies have shown no correlation with cancer rates.
And…what RFK Jr. leaves out: SV40 was gone from polio shots after ‘63.
Yes: early on, polio shots included SV40. Repeated studies have shown no correlation with cancer rates.
And…what RFK Jr. leaves out: SV40 was gone from polio shots after ‘63.